Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to neighboring India after she was toppled by a student-led uprising on August 5, has been living in a safe house in New Delhi’s Lutyens Bungalow Zone for over two months, according to an exclusive report by Indian online media ThePrint.
In keeping with her status, Hasina is residing in a full-sized Lutyens’ bungalow, similar to those allotted to Indian ministers, senior MPs, and top officials.
Lutyens’ Delhi, named after British architect Edwin Lutyens, includes the prestigious Lutyens Bungalow Zone, covering about 26sqkm.
This government-owned area, known for its historical and architectural significance, is one of the most important and expensive zones in New Delhi, housing approximately 1,000 bungalows.
With proper security protocols in place, Hasina takes occasional walks at Lodhi Garden, sources confirmed to ThePrint.
“She has a strong security detail, with personnel guarding her round the clock but in plain clothes. As a dignitary, she is receiving this level of protection,” ThePrint reported citing anonymous source.
“She has been living in the area for more than two months now. All arrangements for her stay were made here.”
Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana were flown out of Bangladesh on a military aircraft to India’s Hindon airbase late on August 5, just hours after she resigned following weeks of
deadly anti-government protests that claimed over 1,000 lives.
However, she left the airbase within two days. On the day of her arrival, Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and senior military officials met her at the airbase.
“She could not have stayed at the airbase for too long. The arrangements there were not adequate. So, in just a few days, she was moved out to a safe place and then this arrangement for a house was done in the safe and secured area of Lutyens’ Delhi,” a second source told ThePrint.
The area is a high-security zone with houses of many former and serving Indian MPs.
When asked if she moves out of the house often, the source told ThePrint: “The core security group is informed when there is a need and arrangements are made accordingly.”
Although Delhi has not formally disclosed Hasina’s location to Dhaka, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told Indian Parliament in August that Hasina had sought approval to come to India “for the moment.”
Hasina was accompanied by her sister Rehana, a British citizen, on her flight to India but It is, however, unclear if she is staying at the house with her sister.
Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wazed, who is the Regional Director of the South-East Asia Region at the World Health Organisation’s Delhi Headquarters, also stays in Delhi.
Last week, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), established by Hasina in 2010, issued arrest warrants against her, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, and 44 others in connection with alleged crimes “against humanity” committed during the students’ protests in July and August, which led to her ouster.
The tribunal, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, issued the orders following two petitions filed by the prosecution seeking the arrest of Hasina and other key political figures.
More than 60 complaints of crimes against humanity and genocide have been filed against Hasina and other senior Awami League leaders with the ICT’s investigation.
The tribunal has also directed the authorities to arrest the 46 individuals and present them before the court by November 18.
